<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001113232</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195654</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FALLON LYNNETTE C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AXCELIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>108 CHERRY HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEVERLY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01915</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP, HR/Legal</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10894</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>A</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75516</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value>2020-05-15</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>837</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.52</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85573</value>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-16</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1404</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value>84169</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-16</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>558</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83611</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>643</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>82968</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F10"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted under the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.  Assuming continuation of employment, 25% of these restricted stock units will vest on each of May 15, 2021, May 15, 2022, May 15, 2023 and May 15, 2024.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of the shares held after this first grant on May 15, 2020, 42,811 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted under the Company's 2012 Equity Incentive Plan.  Based on the achievement of performance goals and assuming continuation of employment, up to 50% of these restricted stock units will vest on each of February 28, 2021 and February 28, 2022.  Unearned restricted stock units will forfeit on February 28, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Of the shares held after this second grant on May 15, 2020, 53,705 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">These shares were withheld by the Company to cover the tax withholding obligations of the executive on the vesting of restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Represents the closing price of the common stock on the date of the tax withholding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Of the shares held after this tax withholding forfeiture (and related vesting) on May 15, 2020, 50,859 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Of the shares held after this first tax withholding forfeiture (and related vesting) on May 16, 2020, 46,046 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Of the shares held after this second tax withholding forfeiture (and related vesting) on May 16, 2020, 44,189 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Of the shares held after this tax withholding forfeiture (and related vesting) on  May 17, 2020, 42,002 were issuable on vesting of restricted stock units granted to the executive under the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and are subject to forfeiture.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynnette C. Fallon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-05-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
